Europe poll go-ahead

TONY Blair was due to announce a poll on the European constitution today in the biggest u-turn of his career. Mr Blair will give a timetable for the first national vote on a policy issue since 1975 later.

TONY Blair was due to announce a poll on the European constitution today in the biggest U-turn of his career.

After months rejecting calls for a referendum on the controversial Brussels blueprint, Mr Blair will give a timetable for the first national vote on a policy issue since 1975, in a Commons statement this afternoon.

It is unlikely that the referendum will take place until at least next spring, the favourite date for a General Election.

The prime minister has constantly refused demands for a referendum, insisting that the draft constitution - which is to be considered by European Union states in June - does not represent a fundamental shift in the UK's relationship with Europe.

But Tories have been calling for a referendum and their leader, Michael Howard, said that once the final text of the constitution has been agreed by Europe the country should move quickly to a national vote.

"There is no case for delaying any further and there is no point in MPs wasting months talking about the constitution if it's going to be completely unacceptable to the British people," said Mr Howard.

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy has long argued for a constitution for the European Union and is supporting a referendum. But he has accused the prime minister of handling the issue in an "amateurish and clumsy" manner.

However, a Downing Street spokesman said the government now believed that the public should judge the reality of the constitution.

"The sooner people can deal with reality rather than scare stories or myths the better," said the spokesman.

The 1975 referendum on Britain's continued membership of Europe saw a 65 per cent turnout and the poll endorsed membership by a decisive majority of 67 per cent to 33 per cent.

A constitution is thought necessary because the EU will soon have 25 members, but is still working to rules designed for the original six members.

Proposals

Even if the constitution is approved in June, it is unlikely to come into effect for two years or more after the admission of 10 new members on May 1.

EU leaders hoped to reach agreement on the constitution at a summit in Brussels last December but could not agree on proposals for a new system of voting.

Some of the main sticking points are:

Voting in the EU council of ministers, with the draft constitution saying a vote is passed when it has the support of 50 per cent of member states representing 60 per cent of EU population.

The number of commissioners each country should have, with some smaller countries opposing plans for 10 voting commissioners, the posts held in turn by the 25 members. They are arguing for a 25-member commission.

There have also been disagreements over a mutual defence clause and there may be arguments over who should have a final say on the EU budget, but the veto on decisions is set to stay in foreign policy, defence and tax, as Britain has demanded.

Other key items include:

Plans for an EU foreign minister - who would be a member of the European Commission - and for a permanent president of the Council of Ministers. At the moment each member state in turn holds the presidency for six months.

A charter of fundamental rights; more power for the European Parliament; an "exit clause" for countries who want to leave the union; and a suspension clause which would apply to a country which violates the EU's basic principles.

The constitution took a year and a half to draw up, the word "federal" does not appear in the text to avoid alarming Euro sceptics, and voters would not notice much difference in the way Europe operates, although the president and foreign minister could in time have very high profile jobs.

Euro sceptics fear too much power is being handed to Europe, while Euro enthusiasts complain that a chance has been missed to create a more centralised, federal system.

North west Euro MPChris Davies said today the constitution was far from perfect but was an improvement on the existing treaties it would replace.

"It would improve decision-making and make it more difficult for France and Spain to block overdue reforms," he said.